PKG00251548-instructions.pdf

BOR-UC-20-F001

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. BOR-UC-20-F001

BASINWIDE & BASIN STATES

SALINITY CONTROL PROGRAMS

(Photo) The Lower Stewart Ditch Salinity Project. Paonia, Colorado

Mission Statements

The Department of the Interior (DOI) conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Applicant Legal Entity Applying for Funding ARC Application Review Committee AOR Authorized Organization Representatives ASAP Automated Standard Application for Payments Basin Colorado River Basin Basin Funds Upper Colorado River Basin Fund and Lower Colorado

River Basin Development Fund Basinwide Program Colorado River Basinwide Salinity Control Program BLM Bureau of Land Management BSP Basin States Program CE Categorical Exclusion CEC Categorical Exclusion Checklist CWA Clean Water Act DUNS Data Universal Number System E-Biz POC E-Business Point of Contact EIN Employer Identification Number EIS Environmental Impact Statement ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency FOA Funding Opportunity Announcement FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact FOTG Field Office Technical Guide FY Fiscal Year IRS Internal Revenue Service MST Mountain Standard Time MOA Memorandum of Agreement NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NHPA National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRCS National Resource Conservation Service O&M Operation and Maintenance OMB Office of Management and Budget PSI Pounds per Square Inch P.L. Public Law Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation Salinity Control Act Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, P.L. 93-320 Salinity Control Program Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program Salinity Funding Funding from the Basinwide Program and/or BSP SAM System for Award Management Secretary Secretary of the Interior Surge Automated Irrigation Method SF Standard Form TIN Taxpayer Identification Number

UC Upper Colorado USDA United States Department of Agriculture USGS United States Geological Survey

Synopsis

Federal Agency Name: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

Funding Opportunity Title:

Colorado River Basinwide & Basin States Salinity Control Programs

Announcement Type: Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)

Funding Opportunity Number:

BOR-UC-20-F001

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

15.509

Dates:

(See FOA Sec. IV.B.1)

Application due date:

September 20, 2019 11:59 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)

Eligible Applicants:

(See FOA Sec. III.A.)

Colorado River Basinwide Salinity Control Program (Basinwide Program)

● Submitted by a legal entity that is the owner or operator of the features to be replaced and/or to be constructed and capable of contracting with Reclamation.

Basin States Program (BSP)

● Submitted by a legal entity that is the owner or operator of the features to be replaced and/or to be constructed and capable of contracting with Reclamation.

Applications must:

● Propose projects that are located in the Colorado River Basin above Hoover Dam.

● Be responsive to the FOA requirements.

● Only use proven technology.

● Not be of a nature that creates undue financial risk for Reclamation.

● Be in an area where salt load can be provided.

● Provide sufficient pressure and appropriate velocity where topography enables it to allow for the future installations of high efficiency on-farm improvements (i.e. sprinkler systems).

Federal Funding Amount:

(See FOA Sec. II.B.)

Reclamation will look to fund as many projects as possible; each project may not exceed $7 million of Salinity Funding in this FOA award cycle. This limit does not apply to any additional cost share funding

Each applicant is limited to a total of $10 million of unspent Reclamation Salinity Funding for more than one project award, at any one time after award;

this includes Salinity Funding that has not yet been spent on any current projects awarded during a previous FOA.

Estimated Amount of Funding Available for Award:

(See FOA Sec. II.A.)

Reclamation may award up to $30-40 million in the Basinwide Program, based on the 2020-2023 budget requests and subject to Federal Appropriations. Reclamation, using BSP funding, may award up to $5-10 million.

Application Checklist

√ What to submit Submit by

REQUIRED:

Salt Load Reduction Worksheet – The Initial and Revised Versions August 1, 2019 Assurances

● Registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) August 1, 2019

● Registered in Grants.gov; www.grants.gov August 1, 2019

● Standard Form (SF) 424 Forms September 20, 2019 Project Application September 20, 2019

● Part 1 - Project summary

● Part 2 - Project proposed for funding

● Part 3 - Projects costs and funding plan

● Appendix A: Detailed Cost Estimates

● Appendix B: Estimate of Enabled On-Farm Acreage

● Appendix C: GIS Project Maps

● Appendix D: Supplemental Data Tables/Other Types of Salinity Control

● Appendix E: Salt Load Reduction Estimate(s)

Signature & Review Letters:

● Applicant Review Signature Page September 20, 2019

● Official Resolution from company September 20, 2019

RECOMMENDED:

State Representative Signature Letter September 20, 2019 Basin States Salinity Coordinator Concurrence Letter September 20, 2019

Applications must be submitted online at www.grants.gov.

Point of Contact:

Richard Pew, UC-825 rpew@usbr.gov 801-524-3740

Deadline: September 20, 2019 @ 11:59 p.m. (MDT) Refer to FOA Section VII for more information.

http://www.grants.gov/

Table of Contents

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

I.A. Program Description

I.B. Program Authority

I.C. Program History

I.D. Objective of Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)

I.E. Conflicts of Interest

Applicability

Requirements

Notification

Restrictions on Lobbying

Review Procedures

Enforcement

I.F. Data Availability

Applicability

Use of Data

Availability of Data

Section II. Award Information

II.A. Total Project Funding

II.B. Project Funding Limitations

II.C. Cost Sharing with Reclamation on Salinity Projects

II.D. Reclamation Responsibilities

Section III. Eligibility Information

III.A. Eligible Applicants

III.B. Projects with Two or More Entities Involved in One Application

III.C. Other Requirements

III.D. Other Funding Guidelines

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.A. Salt Load Reduction Estimates for Proposed Projects

Salt Load Reduction Worksheet

Irrigation-Related Projects

Other Types of Salinity Control (Non-Irrigation)

IV.B. Content and Form of Application Submission

Application Format and Length

Application Content

SF-424 Forms

Signature Letters

FOA Application

IV.C. Additional Instruction for Application Content

Design Standards and Other Considerations for Irrigation-Related Projects

Canal Lining Minimum Construction Criteria

Water Impoundment Structures

Enable On-Farm Salinity Control Features to be Constructed

Other Types of Salinity Control

Estimated Salt Load Reduction Non-Irrigation

IV.D. Wildlife Habitat Replacement

Section V. Application Review Information

V.A. Review and Selection Process

Initial Screening

Application Review Committee (ARC) Review

V.B. Evaluation Criteria

Cost effectiveness (0-35 Points)

Enable On-Farm Salinity Control Features to be Constructed

(0-30 Points)

Risk Assessment (0-25 Points combined sub-criteria below)

Detailed Conceptual Project Plan and Costs & Capability to Implement Project and Meet Project Schedule (0-9 Points)

O&M and Management (0-8 Points)

Past Performance (0-8 Points)

Department of the Interior Priorities (0-10 points)

V.C. Negotiations and Awards

V.C.1 Funding Subject to Appropriation

V.D Pre-Award Clearances and Approvals

V.E. Anticipated Award Dates

V.F. Application Delivery Instructions

Application Submission Deadline

V.G. Submission Requirements

• Please note that submission of an application electronically requires prior registration through Grants.gov, which may take 7-21 calendar days. Please see registration instructions at http://www.grants.gov

Section VII. Agency Contact

Section VIII. Salinity Coordinator(s)

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Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

I.A. Program Description

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Salinity Control Program) was designed to meet the objectives of the Colorado River Basin (Basin) Water Quality Standards. These standards include a Plan of Implementation to limit further degradation of water quality in the Colorado River that provides water to southern California, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico.

The objective of the Salinity Control Program has been to minimize salt loading in the Colorado River system by seeking cost-effective regional solutions to the problem.

The Bureau of Reclamation solicits, ranks, and selects new Salinity Control Projects based on a competitive process open to the public. Cooperative agreements are awarded with selected applicants. Projects have typically involved converting unlined canals and ditches to pipelines located in the Upper Basin States of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming to reduce seepage that picks up salt and carries it into the Colorado River system.

I.B. Program Authority

In June 1974, Congress enacted the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act, Public Law (P.L.) 93-320 (Salinity Control Act), which directed the Secretary of the Interior to proceed with a program to enhance and protect the quality of water available in the Colorado River for use in the United States and Republic of Mexico. In 1975, the Environmental Protection Agency approved water quality standards developed by the seven Colorado River Basin States in response to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972. The standards included numeric criteria for three stations on the main stem of the lower Colorado River (below Hoover Dam, below Parker Dam, and at Imperial Dam) and a Plan of Implementation to control salinity increases.

P.L. 104-20 of July 28, 1995, amended the Salinity Control Act, and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through Reclamation, to implement a Colorado River Basinwide Salinity Control Program (Basinwide Program). The Secretary may carry out the purposes of this legislation directly, or make grants, enter into contracts, memoranda of agreement, commitments for grants, cooperative agreements, or advances of funds to non-Federal entities under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require.

The appropriate agreement mechanism will be determined on a case-by-case basis (i.e., grant or cooperative agreement). Throughout the remainder of this document the generic term "agreement" is used to describe the agreement mechanism.

The 1984 amendments to the Salinity Control Act authorized the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to participate in the Salinity Control Program. Although integrated with Reclamation's work, both agencies have their own

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authorities to implement their respective programs. For example, the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program is responsible for on-farm irrigation improvements and rangeland improvements on private lands. BLM is responsible for the rangeland management program on BLM lands.

P.L. 110-246 amended the Salinity Control Act, authorized the Basin States Program (BSP), and authorized Reclamation, through the BSP, to take advantage of new, cost-effective opportunities to control salinity anywhere in the Basin. Moneys collected into the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund and the Upper Colorado (UC) River Basin Fund (Basin Funds) from a surcharge on power produced at Reclamation facilities are used to control salt by providing grants, grant commitments, or advance funds to Federal or non-Federal entities under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may require. The moneys are used to fund cost effective measures and associated works to reduce salinity from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, industrial sources, erosion of public and private land, and other sources.

There is no distinction in the application process or requirements between the Basin States and Basinwide Programs under this FOA. Applications will be considered for both programs on a competitive basis and awards offered until the funding thresholds have been met. The only substantive difference between the two programs is the source of the Federal funds that will be awarded.

I.C. Program History

Historically, total annual salt loading of the Colorado River measured at Hoover Dam has been approximately 9 million tons. About one-third of the historical salt load was human-induced, originating from irrigation practices, municipal and industrial sources. Due to salinity in the Colorado River water, quantified economic damages to municipal and agricultural water users in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River are currently about $382 million per year. Without the Salinity Control Program, it is estimated that the quantified economic damages would be about $618 million per year.

I.D. Objective of Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)

Reclamation’s UC Region is requesting applications for Salinity Control Projects that reduce salinity contributions to the Colorado River system. Such applications may consist of projects to reduce salinity contributions originating from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, municipal and industrial sources, erosion of public and private land, or other sources.

Only those irrigation-related projects where salt load reduction values have been supplied by Reclamation, and which reduce salt loading from delivery systems, will be considered, e.g., canals, ditches, or laterals. However, delivery system projects that enable future, on-farm salinity reduction projects will be given a higher rating as detailed in the evaluation criteria.

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Such on-farm projects should be referred to the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

In this FOA, applications will be accepted for projects that request $7 million or less of Reclamation’s Salinity Funding and control significant tons of salt.

Applications will be selected through a competitive process under the evaluation criteria set forth in the FOA. Applications will be evaluated and ranked by an application review committee (ARC). Reclamation and/or the state agency will then proceed to award agreements to the applicants of the highest ranked applications. Starting with those applications with the highest ranking, awards may be made until the anticipated available funding for the next 3 to 4 years has been awarded. Awarded projects are funded each year based on the appropriations received and the priorities of date of award and ranking order.

Applicants who are awarded salinity project funds are required to replace incidental wildlife habitat losses concurrent with construction of the project schedule and to maintain the wildlife habitat for the life of the project, which is 50 years. Reclamation will monitor the habitat projects and meet and communicate with the awarded Applicant on a regular basis over the 50-year maintenance period to help ensure the success of the habitat replacement project.

I.E. Conflicts of Interest

Applicability

This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements. In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

Requirements

Non-Federal entities must avoid prohibited conflicts of interest, including any significant financial interests that could cause a reasonable person to question the recipient's ability to provide impartial, technically sound, and objective performance under or with respect to a Federal financial assistance agreement.

In addition to any other prohibitions that may apply with respect to conflicts of interest, no key official of an actual or proposed recipient or subrecipient, who is substantially involved in the proposal or project, may have been a former Federal employee who, within the last one (1) year, participated personally and substantially in the evaluation, award, or administration of an award with respect to that recipient or subrecipient or in development of the requirement leading to the funding announcement.

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No actual or prospective recipient or subrecipient may solicit, obtain, or use non-public information regarding the evaluation, award, or administration of an award to that recipient or subrecipient or the development of a Federal financial assistance opportunity that may be of competitive interest to that recipient or subrecipient.

Notification

Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112, Conflicts of Interest. Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

Restrictions on Lobbying

Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under this grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR Part 18 and 31 USC 1352.

Review Procedures

The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

Enforcement

Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for Noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR Part 180).

million per year.

I.F. Data Availability

Applicability

The Department of the Interior is committed to basing its decisions on the best available science and providing the American people with enough information to thoughtfully and substantively evaluate the data, methodology, and analysis used by the Department to inform its decisions.

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Use of Data

The regulations at 2 CFR 200.315 apply to data produced under a Federal award, including the provision that the Federal Government has the right to obtain, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the data produced under a Federal award as well as authorize others to receive, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use such data for Federal purposes.

Availability of Data

The recipient shall make the data produced under this award and any subaward(s) available to the Government for public release, consistent with applicable law, to allow meaningful third-party evaluation and reproduction of the following:

• The scientific data relied upon;

• The analysis relied upon; and

• The methodology, including models, used to gather and analyze data.

Section II. Award Information

II.A. Total Project Funding

Reclamation may award up to about $30-40 million in the Basinwide Program.

Reclamation also may award up to about $5-10 million in the BSP.

II.B. Project Funding Limitations

There is a $7 million limit, of Salinity Funding, per project for this FOA. It is also anticipated that no project will receive more than $2 million of funding in any fiscal year (FY). Applicants should not request in a funding plan more than $2 million for any single FY.

No single entity may receive a total of more than $10 million of unspent Salinity funds, at any one time, in any current Salinity Agreements. This includes current projects selected in previous FOAs.

Applicants may submit multiple clearly severable applications as they choose under the FOA, but agreements will not be awarded to an applicant once a total of $10 million of Salinity Funding has been reached.

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II.C. Cost Sharing with Reclamation on Salinity Projects

If an entity chooses to help fund their project(s) with additional non-Salinity Funding, this will create a cost share project with two or more funding sources. The non-Salinity Funding and the Salinity Funding shall be spent concurrently at the agreed-upon cost share percentage. This cost share percentage will remain in effect for the life of the agreement.

If an entity fails to comply with concurrent cost sharing with its non-Salinity Funding, Reclamation will suspend Salinity Funding until funding matches the agreed-upon cost share percentage. Reclamation retains the right to terminate an agreement for non-compliance.

If the project scope can be completed under budget, the scope may be expanded with Reclamation approval. Once approved, the entity may utilize the remaining funding of the agreement for additional features or system improvements that will enhance the efficiency of the project or otherwise further the objectives of the Salinity Control Program. If it is determined that the scope will not be expanded, the savings will be shared according to the agreed-upon cost share percentage.

II.D. Reclamation Responsibilities

Reclamation assistance may be provided to the project sponsor in implementing the project when requested to do so and it is in the best interest of the Government. The cost of this assistance shall be considered a project cost and must be included in the cost estimate in each application.

Reclamation may, at its own discretion, provide direct assistance to the project sponsor when the proposed project has other associated indirect benefits of Federal interest (i.e., other water quality or environmental benefits). The cost of this assistance will not be considered a project cost.

At the request of the recipient, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after award of the project. If Reclamation’s assistance is received, these costs must be accounted for in the project budget. To discuss assistance available and these costs, please contact the local Reclamation office, which can be identified at https://www.usbr.gov/main/offices.html

Section III. Eligibility Information

III.A. Eligible Applicants

• Applicant or subcontractor for the applicant has not had a project terminated for non-compliance in the Salinity Control Program administered by Reclamation.

• Will meet all requirements described below in this Section.

https://www.usbr.gov/main/offices.html

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III.B. Projects with Two or More Entities Involved in One Application

Two or more separate legal entities may combine ditch systems or projects to create one cost effective project(s). The legal entities involved in creating this project may create a new legal entity together or, and this is most recommended, choose a lead entity to contract with Reclamation for the project, if selected for award. The entities must draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA), which states that each entity is aware of the laws and processes that pertain to the award. If awarded an agreement, this MOA and legal arrangement must remain in place for 50 years.

Basinwide Program

● Be a legal entity with a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and registered in SAM. Must be the owner or operator of the features to be replaced and/or to be constructed and capable of contracting with Reclamation.

Basin States Program

● Be a legal entity with a DUNS number and registered in SAM. Must be the owner or operator of the features to be replaced and/or to be constructed and capable of contracting with Reclamation.

III.C. Other Requirements

1. Eligible Projects

● The project being proposed is located within the Basin above Hoover Dam.

● The project being proposed must be responsive to the FOA requirements.

2. Ineligible Projects

● A project that:

o Requests more than $7 million in Basinwide Program or BSP funding.

o Requires 5 or more years for completion.

o Uses unproven technology.

o Creates undue financial risk for Reclamation.

o Has had an Applicant and/or an Engineering Firm that have shown poor historical performance on past salinity projects, based on risk assessment criteria.

o If habitat replacement is not in compliance, based on the requirements of a previously awarded agreement.

o Eliminates the potential of providing sufficient pressure, and an appropriate velocity, to allow for the future installations of high efficiency, on-farm improvements (i.e. sprinkler systems) on irrigation systems that have sufficient elevation change to enable pressure.

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o Claims tons of salt from:

A feature or project previously constructed or a project currently under construction.

A feature or project already obligated to be funded by another program that is not contingent upon receiving Salinity Funding.

3. Length of Projects

It is recommended and to the Applicant’s advantage that the projects be substantially complete in 2 to 4 years from the start date. Reclamation does not allow agreements to go beyond 5 years.

4. Environmental Compliance

All awarded agreements will require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) before any ground disturbing activity may begin. Compliance with all applicable state, Federal, and local environmental, cultural resource, and paleontological resource protection laws and regulations is also required. These may include, but are not limited to, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), consultation with potentially affected tribes, and consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office.

Reclamation will be the lead Federal agency for NEPA compliance and will be responsible for evaluating technical information and ensuring that natural and cultural resources and socioeconomic concerns are appropriately addressed. As the lead agency, Reclamation will give the Applicant a final approval in NEPA and cultural resources compliances. Environmental and cultural resources compliance costs are part of an applicant’s budget. These costs will be considered in the ranking of applications.

III.D. Other Funding Guidelines

Funding from sources other than the Salinity Program is not required. However, an applicant may want to include funding from other funding sources to make their project more competitive.

Other funding may be in the form of cash, in-kind contributions, or both from the applicant or third-party partners. Other funding from sources outside the applicant’s organization, e.g., loans or state grants, should be secured and available to the applicant prior to award. Reclamation may approve an award prior to an applicant securing other funds if Reclamation determines that there is sufficient evidence and likelihood that the funds will be available to the applicant by the start of the project. Funding commitment letters must be submitted in accordance with instructions in Section IV.B.

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1. Cost Share Funding

If an entity chooses to help fund their project(s) with additional non-salinity funding, this will create a cost share project with two or more funding sources. The non-Salinity Funding and the Salinity Funding shall be spent concurrently at the agreed-upon cost share percentage. This cost share percentage will remain in effect for the life of the agreement. Funding commitment letters must be submitted with the application and funding must be in process of being secure at the end of the FOA.

2. In-Kind Contributions

In-kind contributions constitute the value of non-cash contributions that benefit a federally assisted project. These contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies, and other expendable property, as well as the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the project or program. The cost or value of in-kind contributions that have been or will be relied on to satisfy a cost-sharing or matching requirement for another Federal financial assistance agreement, a Federal procurement contract, or any other award of Federal funds may not be claimed as other funding in the application.

3. Claiming Features and Projects Already Constructed as Other Funding

Applicants may not claim features and associated salt control for projects previously constructed or that are already under agreement to be funded by another program as other funding in their application. This includes projects not contingent on being selected for Salinity Program funding.

4. Indirect Costs

Applicants with a federally approved indirect cost rate agreement may include indirect costs as part of the project budget. Show the agreed upon rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs. It is not acceptable to simply incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items.

If the applicant has never received a Federal negotiated indirect cost rate, the budget may include a de minimis rate of up to 10 percent of modified total direct costs. For further information on modified total direct costs, refer to 2 CFR §200.68 available at www.ecfr.gov.

If the applicant does not have a federally approved indirect cost rate agreement and is proposing a rate greater than the de minimis 10 percent rate, include the computational basis for the indirect expense pool and corresponding allocation base for each rate. Information on “Preparing and Submitting Indirect Cost Proposals” is available from Interior, the National Business Center, and Indirect Cost Services, at www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services Normally design, construction management, cultural resources or NEPA are not indirect charges.

http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services

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5. Budget Narrative

(1) General Requirements: Include a budget with the annual estimated project costs and an estimate of any out-year costs associated with the project. Include the value of in-kind contributions of goods and services and sources of funds provided to complete the project. The application must clearly delineate between Reclamation and applicant contributions.

(2) Budget Format: The budget must include detailed information on the categories listed in the table at Appendix A on the Application. Unit costs shall be provided for all budget items, including the cost of work to be provided by contractors. Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category.

Additionally, applicants shall include a narrative description of the items included in the budget.

It is strongly advised that applicants use the budget format shown in Appendix A in the 2019 FOA Project Application.

(3) Budget Narrative Format: Submission of a budget narrative is mandatory. An award will not be made to any applicant who fails to fully disclose this information. The Budget Narrative provides a discussion of, or explanation for, items included in the budget application. An applicant must provide a basis for and detailed support for each cost element; i.e., did the rate come from quotes; historical documentation modeling; an engineer estimate; or some other methodology? If selected, supporting documentation will be required.

(4) Budget Form: In addition to the above-described budget information, the applicant must complete an SF-424, Budget Information–Construction Programs. This form is available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/forms-repository.html Below is a sample of what Reclamation uses to review budgets. Please provide as much detail as possible.

Budget Pricing Guide/Template

The following estimating techniques may be used;

Competition: Bid abstracts for similar work on previous projects Comparison to historic pricing Comparison to published prices Market research

Some or all the following cost element information may apply:

Labor; does the budget contain the following as applicable?

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/forms-repository.html

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• The kind of employee that will be working on the project (job classification/description such as engineer, laborer, program manager)?

• The amount of time each person will be working? This can be a number of hours, days, weeks, percentage of a year, etc.

• The wages paid to the employee? This can be an hourly rate, daily rate, annual salary, etc. to correspond to the measure of the time budgeted but does not include fringe or other indirect rates.

• Supporting documentation for the budgeted rate? This can be payroll records identifying the individual or labor category.

Fringe Benefits and Payroll Additives If labor costs are budgeted:

• What is the fringe benefit rate or dollar amount?

• Supporting documentation such as negotiated rates or agreements, Certified Public

Accountant recommendation or the actual compilation of the poll and base costs for Reclamation evaluation.

Equipment:

If equipment costs are budgeted:

• The kind of equipment that will be used on the project (type, model, size, etc.)?

• The amount of time each type of equipment will be working? This can be several hours, days, weeks, percentage of a year, etc.

• The rate for the equipment? This can be an hourly, daily, annual, etc. to correspond to the measure of the time.

• Is the equipment owned or rented? Reimbursement for use of owned equipment must be based upon the actual cost to the recipient for the operation and use of the equipment, not on rental rates. If ownership rates are not available, Corps of Engineer recommended rates should be used.

• Is there standby time included?

• (Notes: Reimbursement for use of owned equipment must be based upon the actual cost to the recipient for the operation and use of the equipment, not on rental rates. Also, standby costs need to be identified and standby rates supported in the same manner. No operating costs are allowed for standby.)

Material:

If material costs are budgeted:

• What items are being purchased, i.e. a description of the items?

• The quantity of each item?

• The unit cost of the items?

• Consolidated Bill of Materials.

• 10 percent contingency for supplies and materials.

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Contingency:

Applications may budget up to 10 percent contingency on supplies and materials only. No other contingency will be allowed on line items. Contingency may only be used if the Grant’s Officer gives written approval, based on future escalating supplies and material prices.

Audits:

A Single Audit may be required for non-Federal entity’s receiving Federal funds. (see reference below. This cost can be reimbursed with Federal funds.)

2CFR §200.501 Audit requirements: (a) Audit required. A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity's fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part.

Other Direct Costs:

Other direct costs are anything that is not labor, fringe benefits, equipment, material, or overhead. Examples could include supplies, room rental, advertising, internet access, copy costs, telephone use, and travel.

• What the purpose is for the cost?

• What the basis is for the cost in the budget, i.e. how did the requestor come up with the dollar amount for the item?

• Is there enough information to duplicate the calculation of the amount?

Subcontracts:

Did the recipient provide supporting documentation for the subcontract costs determining them to be fair and reasonable? This includes engineering and project management contracts (The budget information needed for subcontractors is identical to the information needed for the recipient. The recipient should have used the same guidance for each cost element budgeted for the subcontractor as would be for the recipient.)

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.A. Salt Load Reduction Estimates for Proposed Projects

All applications for Salinity Control Projects must obtain salt load reduction estimates prior to submission of the application. To obtain salt load reduction estimates the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet must be submitted to the Program Manager with a copy to the appropriate Reclamation Technical Contact.

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Salt Load Reduction Worksheet

The Salt Load Reduction Worksheet can be downloaded from www.grants.gov. Instructions for completing and submitting the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet are included with the document.

Questions regarding the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet should be directed to the appropriate Reclamation Technical Contact.

Applicants should submit completed Salt Load Reduction Worksheets to bor-sha-uc-foasaltloadreduction@usbr.gov. For each Salinity Control Project, applicants will be allowed no more than two submissions of the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet. Applicants should be aware that submittals may require twenty (20) or more calendar days to process.

Applicants are encouraged to submit the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet as early as possible following the release of the FOA, especially if applicants anticipate submitting a revised version of the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet.

Final submissions of Salt Load Reduction Worksheet must be received by Reclamation no later than August 1, 2019 at bor-sha-uc-foasaltloadreduction@usbr.gov

Salt load reduction estimates will be provided to the applicant in an electronic letter by Reclamation’s UC Regional Office.

Irrigation-Related Projects

For irrigation-related projects the salt load reduction estimates will be determined from Reclamation, NRCS, or United States Geological Survey (USGS) salinity studies of agricultural areas. These estimates will only be provided for agricultural areas where a completed study is available. Reclamation does not have the capability to provide salt load reduction estimates for agricultural areas where Reclamation, NRCS, or USGS salinity studies have not been completed.

Salt load reduction estimates may be available for the following agricultural areas. Also see Figure 1 and Figure 2 for maps of approximate locations of these agricultural areas. Check with the appropriate local Reclamation Technical Contact (see Section VIII) for the availability of salt load reduction estimates in each area.

Colorado:

● Grand Valley Unit, which includes the majority of the Grand Valley in the vicinity of Grand Junction, Colorado, with the exception of the Redlands area.

● Lower Gunnison Basin Unit, which includes agricultural lands within the Gunnison River basin, including its tributaries, below Morrow Point Dam, with the exception of some limited areas tributary to the Uncompahgre River.

mailto:bor-sha-uc-foasaltloadreduction@usbr.gov

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● McElmo Creek Unit, which includes agricultural lands within the McElmo Creek and Navajo Wash basins in southwestern Colorado.

● Mancos Valley, which includes agricultural lands within the Mancos River basin in southwestern Colorado.

● DeBeque study area, which is located near the town of DeBeque, Colorado, and includes agricultural lands located along the Colorado River corridor and along portions of Roan Creek.

● Whitewater and Kannah Creek study area, which is adjacent to the lower Gunnison River near the town of Whitewater, Colorado, and includes agricultural lands located in lowland mesas and stream valleys of Whitewater, Kannah, and Callow Creek.

● Silt study area, which is located near the town of Silt, Colorado, and is an area roughly defined as being bordered by the Colorado River, Colorado State Highway 325, and the south side of the Grand Hogback, and Garfield County Road 235, just east of Silt.

New Mexico:

● Navajo Portion of the San Juan Unit, New Mexico, including the Hogback, Fruitland, and Gadii’ahi projects.

Utah:

● Price-San Rafael Rivers Unit, which includes agricultural lands within the Price and San Rafael River basins in east-central Utah.

● Uinta Basin study areas including Ashley Valley, Utah.

● Muddy Creek Unit, which is near the town of Emery, Utah, and includes agricultural lands located in the Muddy Creek watershed north of Interstate 70.

● Manila-Washam project area, which is located near the towns of Manila, Utah, and

Washam, Wyoming, and includes agricultural lands within Lucerne Valley, South Valley, Antelope Hollow, Green River, and along Henry’s Fork.

● Green River project area, which includes agricultural lands located near the town of

Green River, Utah.

Wyoming:

● Big Sandy River near the towns of Farson and Eden, Wyoming, including agricultural lands served by the Eden Project.

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● West Blacks Fork, which includes agricultural lands along the Blacks Fork River upstream of its confluence with the Smith Fork River and near the towns of Fort Bridger, Lyman, and along Henry’s Fork in Wyoming.

If the proposed project does not fall within one of these previously studied areas, salt load reduction estimates cannot be provided at this time. However, if an organization has interest in pursuing the piping or lining of off-farm canals and ditches in such areas, please contact the appropriate local Reclamation Technical Contact, located in Section VIII of the FOA, to discuss the possibility of future studies, which could lead to participation in the Salinity Control Program.

Other Types of Salinity Control (Non-Irrigation)

Applications for other types of salinity control such as evaporation ponds or a desalinization plant, etc., will be accepted for evaluation. All applications for other types of salinity control must obtain salt load reduction estimates from Reclamation prior to submission of the application. See Section V.A.1 for instructions on submitting the Salt Load Reduction Worksheet.

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IV.B. Content and Form of Application Submission

Each applicant shall apply in accordance with the instructions contained in this section.

Application Format and Length

The Project Application section shall be limited to a maximum of twenty (20) pages excluding appendices. The SF-424 forms are not considered in the total page count.

Applications will be prescreened for compliance to the page number limitations.

Application Content

The application must include the following elements in order to be considered complete:

● SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

● SF-424 C and D Forms

● Signature Letters o Applicant Review Signature (required)

● Project Application (limited to twenty [20] pages excluding appendices) to include (all are required):

o Title page o Table of contents o Part I - Project summary o Part II - Project proposed for funding o Part III - Project costs and funding plan o Appendices A through E as applicable to the project

● Commitment Letter(s) for Cost Share funding (if applicable) Funding must be secure at time of application.

● Letters of project support (if applicable)

● Official resolution (to be provided by the Applicant) (required)

SF-424 Forms

SF-424 Forms may be obtained at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/forms-repository.html

Failure to submit all properly signed SF 424 Forms may result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

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Signature Letters

Applicant Review Signature Page This is required to be signed by the person designated to represent the company, district, ditch or irrigation company, e.g., president or chairman. This signed page indicates that the person representing the applicant has reviewed the application that has been prepared and concurs that it meets the needs and objectives of his/her company, district, ditch, or irrigation company.

Basin State Salinity Coordinator Concurrence Letter It is encouraged that each application be reviewed by and include a Concurrence Letter signed by the individual Basin State Salinity Coordinator from which the application is being submitted.

The name of the appropriate Basin State Salinity Coordinator can be found in (see Section VIII).

State Representative Signature Letter It is highly recommended, yet not required, for each applicant to have his/hers Project Application reviewed by and to include a letter from his/her state Representative. Reclamation recommends this letter to help the applicant review the application before submission.

Step 1: It is encouraged that the project sponsor and project engineer have a preliminary consultation with the State Representative (see Section VIII) to discuss project formulation.

Step 2: The project sponsor and the project engineer should have a preliminary engineering design and cost estimates plan submitted to the State Representative (see Section VIII) who will make a courtesy review within seven (7) to fourteen (14) days.

FOA Application

Project Application must be prepared using the required electronic template provided by Reclamation. The application template is a Microsoft® Word document is attached to the end of this document and can be downloaded the www.grants.gov FOA BOR-UC-20-F001.

Applicants must provide all information as requested in the Project Application template.

Responses must be entered in the space provided except for maps, tables, and other information, which should be provided in the appropriate appendix per instructions. Where information is not applicable please enter “NA” as the response. The following describes the content of the Project Application and includes instructions for completing the application.

Title Page Provide the project name, project location, name of the applicant, and date the application was prepared on the title page included in the required electronic template.

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Table of Contents The contents of the Project Application shall be provided in the order listed in the table of contents. Where an appendix is not applicable to a project make the appropriate annotation to the table of contents.

Part I – Project Summary

Applicant/Entity Name Provide the name and location of the applicant or entity who is submitting the application for the

2019 FOA.

Application Name Provide the name of the application or project which is being submitted.

Application Prepared By Provide the information, including the name of the individual(s) or consultant who prepared the Project Application.

Contracting Entity Manager Contact Information Provide all contact information, i.e. email, phone, address, for the entity’s manager, who has the authorization within the organization to manage the project.

Project Manager Contact Information Provide the contact information of the Project Manager who is employed by the Applicant.

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Provide a copy of a fully executed MOA if two or more entities are combining to submit an application. The MOA must indicate who the point of contact is and state that it will be in effect for the life of the project (50 years).

Acknowledgement of FOA Amendments Applicants shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the FOA by identifying the amendment number and date.

Part II – Project Proposed for Funding

Background and Description of Project Area Describe project setting and geographic location. For irrigation-related applications, include general hydrology, geology, soils, climate (average rainfall, temperature, and growing season), water storage facilities, existing irrigation facilities (total mileage of canals and laterals and number of users), irrigated acreage, types of crops, etc. All the above items must be included.

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Project Maps Attach, as Appendix C of the Project Application, detailed GIS maps showing existing facilities and proposed improvements. Printed maps shall be no larger than 11 x 17 inches.

Map(s) of existing facilities shall be scaled appropriately to easily identify the project area, existing facilities, and major geographic features including roads, streams, reservoirs, towns, Federal, state, Tribal, private, etc. If the proposed project is irrigation related, the map(s) should show locations of canals, laterals, and irrigated lands. Those canals or laterals proposed for improvement or abandonment under this application should be clearly identified. Map(s) should identify the season each pipe line will be installed. The map(s) will be shared with the local NRCS Office if awarded.

Map(s) of proposed improvements shall be scaled appropriately which clearly identifies improvements that would be constructed under this application. Any additional maps, such as those with an aerial photo background, can also be included to better help identify project location and features. If irrigation related, display proposed pipeline alignments and/or canal segments to be lined, along with locations of previously lined or piped sections. Indicate in the color blue, the portion of the delivery system facilities to be funded in whole or part by Reclamation and, in the color red, any portion to be funded by other sources.

Water Rights and Supply Describe the water rights for supplies from both diversion and storage. Describe irrigation water supply and water shortages, and whether water supply fluctuates greatly or is consistent from day to day. Include average total acre-feet diversion per year. Provide method of water allocation such as splitter box delivery or water flow per acre.

Detailed Description of Proposed Project – Irrigation Delivery Systems Describe the specific existing facilities (canals, laterals, ditches) that are to be improved or replaced.